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VOL. XV. NO 3-2 RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, SATURDAY, JTJLV 23. 1898 PRICE. 5 CENTS awhiteladyj The Utterances American BARBAROUS The Administration And Goniict Lease Sys THE CUBAN HORRORS . COUNTRY.?NAUSEA The Exposure Of The Crue Strong Plea Foi Mr. Mitchell. Dear Sir:?In looking over the last number of the Planet I waa much inter ested in what I read on one of itt pages. The extracts from the Cuvelasi Gabettb express my opinion exact 17. ''The closer tbe north and south get as a result of the war the harder it will be for the Afro-American." I have watched the progress of the war very carefully and have not failed to see that the "union of the two sections will be at the expense of the colored broth? er." I have shuddered when I thought of what the end would be. But then, God reigns. MB. BOBTUNB's REM AUK ABLE ASSERTION. I wish I could feel that Mr. Fortune was wrong when he said that President McKinley had established "a dead line beyond which an Afro-American can? not go into the volunteer army," but it is just as I expected. How could it be otherwise when the President's right hand man and confidential advisor was so long accustomed to looking up? on colored men in shackles con Hued in his chain-gang ? MR. PLATT AND THE CONVICTS. Perhaps it is not generally under? stood that this man and Thomas C. Platt of New York, both leading Re? publicans, were for years lessees of convicts, most of whom were colored men. Papers stated fjiat they made $100,000 a year from the labor of the convicts in Tennessee. They paid the state 9101,000 for their labor. The death rate among these convicts was Dimply appalling ; and their sufferings have been described by abler pens than mine. I leave these things all with Him be? fore whom not a sparrow falls without His notice. "The Negro must be kept down," ia heard in the camp, and es? pecially is it heard and the principle car ried out in our courts of justice. BISHOP TURNER'S UTTERANCES. In another column you quote what Bishop Turner says. (God bless Bis? hop Turner for bis boldness.) "Enough men have been lynched to death to reach a mile high if laid one upon the other, and enough women and children ao form the head and foot slab, if they could be arranged to stand upon the head of each other." Alas I Alas! would to God that this could tell the whole story. But it is only in comparison as a drap of water to the bucketful, when compared to the great multitude that have drag? ged out a wretched existence in jails and convict camps, and whose bodies fill unknown graves or, as is done in Georgia, taken to the dissecting table. AN OUTRAGEOUS SYSTEM. Nothing but the "middle passage" has ever proved such destruction to ths colored race this side of the Afri? can coa st, as the convict-lease sj stem in the Southern States. A pen picture of its horrors would rival that given of the Spaniards in Cuba, or the Turks in Turkey, or the Russians in Siberia. Let us look at Mississippi where Negro convicts have bees flogged to death. In three years three hundred and six? ty-seven convicts died ant ot an aver? age number of a little over seven hun? dred?over one-half. Nearly every one was colored. A FEARFUL DEATH RATS. The death rate among the colored convicts waa more than double that of the whites, which showed worse treat? ment I will give a few instances to show how some of them died. "They whipped one man who was in a dying IPEAKS BOLDLY Of Three Afro Leaders. TREATMENT. I The RaceQuestion.-The tem And Lynching. \ND PRACTICES IN THIS .TING FACTS CITED. lties?Mrs. Keeler Makes A r The Sufferers. condition with a barrel stave He was carried back to the cage and there died in fifteen minutes." Another sick man was flogged who sat down and fell for? ward dead. Some went barefooted in winter and frosted their feet. "One died of a sore leg with maggots in it." THIRTT-ONB "dIBAPPSABJCD." The number of deaths give" in offici? al reports do not include the large num ber who went out to die?either were pardoned out because they were sick and unable to work, escaped or were discharged. During two years thirty one convicts mysteriously disappeared, or were not accounted for. They were not reported as having died, escaped, or among the living. One might hope rht-y were translated as Enoch was. This class of convicts is termed state convints. Then there is another class termed misdemeanor or county con? victs. The condition of the latter ia pitiable in the extreme. THAT OTHBR SYSTEM. A few years ago tbe state adopted another system for her state convicts; but I cannot help thinking the man was right who wrote to me concerning it. "Don't be fooled, it is the same old system practically, only under another name," Before, the profits of convict labor were divided between the lessees and the state; now the state receives the largest share of the profits. It is said that there is "considerably more criminality among the Negroes than among the whites," and that "freedom has not done the Negro much good." When we look at the large number serving long sentences in the southern chain-gangs, it would seem as if such assertions might have some shadow of truth. HOSTLY COLORED FOLKS PUNISHED. In Georgia where the white popula? tion exceeds that of the oolored. the latter furnish nine-tenths of tbe crimi? nals. Official reports show that Georg? ia alone has nearly four thousand, two hundred criminals, nearly all of whom are young, able-bodied colored men. including one hundred and forty boya sixteen years old and younger. The labor of all these convicts is hired out to the highest bidders, who care noth? ing more for them than the money that can be coined out of their flesh and blood. THOSB HUMAN LEECHES. It is not my purpose in this short ar? ticle to show what the treatment of Georgia's convicts is now, and has bean ever since they fell into the hands of these human leeches, the lessees, who have not only worked and starved ma? ny to death, but they or their guards hava flogged men until death relieved them of their sufferings. Scarcely a year has passed since one Frank McKay, an old Negro, guilty on? ly of a misdemeanor, was flogged to death by an inhuman white guard named Bob Gannon The same guard who compelled female convicts confin? ed in that same camp to strip naked in the presence of the male convicts and be flagged. THE INNOCENT WITH THE QUILTY. After many years of careful investi? gation I have found that many of these convicts both in the penitentiary chain gangs and the misdemeanor, or what is termed county chain-gangs, are in? nocent. I will give an instance to show something of how a confession has been sometimes extorted, and which was related by a responsible party. A poor penniless Negro was arrested on suspicion of having com? mitted a murder. After being kept in jail a long time a confession was ex? torted from him "by blood hounds, and in the presence of a grave and a coffin, prepared by those who were pecuniari mmmWi'111 MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM R SHAFTER. Major General W. R. Shafter, who has begun the conquest of Cuba at Santiago, is a big man physically and men? tally. He first entered tho military service on tho 21st of August, 1861, when he was mustered into the volunteers as first lieutenant of tho Seventh Michigan infantry, being honorably mustered out just a year later. He at once re-en? tered the servico as major of the Nineteenth Michigan, becoming lieutenant colonel in 1663 and colonel of the Seven? teenth United States colored infantry April 10, 1864. He was commissioned a brevet brigadier general of volunteers on March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war and was also brevetted colonel in the regular lavrmy March 2, 1867, for gallantry at tho battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia. In July, 1866, while still in the volunteer 'sorvioe, General Shafter was made lieutenant colonel of the Forty-first regular infantry, from which he was transferred {to the Twenty-fourth infantry in 1869 on the reduction of the army to a peace footing. He became colonel of the First infantry March 4, 1879, which position he held until he was mado brigadier general, May 26, 1897. During this long period as a regimental commander General Shafter won a most cuviablo reputation, his regiment being famed through font the entire army for its efficiency, drill and discipline. It was often said that Shafter's was "the best regiment in lthe army." An officer who returned from Germany in ISO'.', after a year spent in observation of tho army of that country, said that Shafter's First infantry was the only American regiment whioh reached the German standard. J Nearly all of these 18 years the regiment spent on tho Pacific coxst, boing stationed at the Presidio until its departure ifor New Orleans, and after his promotion last year General Shafter was given command of the department of Califor? nia. Judged Dy this record, there is every reason to believe that ho has in him tha making of a successful commander and an able leader. He will be 63 years old on Oct. 16 of this year. ly interested in his conviction.' CRUEL PUNISHMENT FOR TRIVIAL OF KENeES. Although innocent, as was known by some, that man was "sentenced to this horrible chain-gang for life." This same committee was composed of some of Georgia's best citizens, declared that "poor colored con vieta were ser\ ing life sentences for stealing ene mac? kerel and simihar offenses." During tbe official investigation in 1896 it was found that many colored men were "sent to the penitentiary for practical? ly their lives for having a fight or diffi? culty." A white minister of Georgia told me there were hundreds of inno? cent men in the ahain-gangs there, WORDS INADEQUATE. I might say much, very much more, but words are inadequate to express indignation. Neither tongue nor pen cad give a true picture of a southern chain-gang as it exists in some of the states. In the still hours of the night I lift up my heart to God and ask Him to en? able me to present these horrid truths in such a way that they will burn into the hearts of the people,people who are saying "the Negro criminal cannot be reformed" Who made him a crimi? nal ? Who placed him in one of these "schools of crime" where he by his training becomes ten times more the child of hell than he possibly could be out of it ? THE WOMEN'S CONDITION. We talk about old time slavery that existed before the war. when a woman with one drop of Negro blood in her veins oould not possess her own child to whom she had given birth?no, nor even her own body. Neither her beau - ty and refinement nor her ignorance snd helplessness saved her 'rom tbe auction block. But bad assUvery was then, there is a worse slavery to-day. SPANIARDS NOT SO ORUBL. Our hearts are melted with pity for the poor reconcentrados but I have sever read of anything quite so cruel of Spaniards aa the barbarities prac? ticed on the Negro convicts in Arkan iss. I have never read of three score re oncentrados having been murdered and then buried in a mud hole. I believe the present war tobe just but could rot the Spaniards say to this nation with consistency, "Physician heal thyself 1" Clarissa Olds Keeler, July 15. 1898, Washington, D.C. PLANET LODGE Is SUSPEISED. Planet Lodge, No. 23, held its regu? lar Convention last Mondav evening in its Castle Hall. An exceedingly heavy attendance was the feature of the even? ing. Among the visitors present we noted Maj. J. H Brice, Chaplain of the Virginia Brigade, Uniform Rank; ?uol. Augustus Taylor, Ass't Quartermaster General and Col. Jesse Scruggs, Com misary General of tbe same ; Sir Fos? ter Lucas, Chancellor Commander of Blooming Lily Lodge, No. 15; Sir W. Van Jackson, Chancellor Commander of Unity Lodge, No. 24 -, Sir Willis Wy? att, Chancellor Commander of Royal Lodge, No. 26; Sir J 0. Farley. Chan? cellor Commander of Richmond Lodge, No. 1; Sir John Bland, of Unity L. dge, No. 24. After the regular routine of business had baan completed, Grand Chancellor John Mitchell, Jr., assisted by Chan? cellor Commander Foster Lucas of Blooming Lily and Sir Samuel Clay of Planet Lodge proclaimed the Lodge open in Knightly and Chivalric Form and installed the officers for the ensu? ing term as follows: M. of W., W. A. Kyles; C. 0., John T.Taylor J V. C., CM Bowler; Pre? late, J. A. Smith ; M. of Ex., James L. Burrell; M. of F., T. M. Crump; K. of R. and 8.. T. W. Mitchell; M. at A., H. Eugene Richardson ; I. G., Joshua ll. Griffin ; O. G., Milius Jones; Attend? ants, Samuel Clay. Wm. Pierson, Lew? is Parrish, George Manning. Grand Master at Arms, .lesie Scruggs declared the officers installed. Short addresses were indulged in by several of the visitors, Maj. J. H. Brice wind? ing up the procession ia one of his hap* py speeches. The lodge adjourned and as the Sir Knights were retiring, they were met by an array of ths fair sex and invited to the spacious supper room where a genuine surprise awaited them in tne shape of a heavily ladened table, where delicacies of the season were in abun? dance. This surprise was led on Planet Lodge. No 23 by the efforts of Planet Court of Calanthe. aided by a few la? dies of Sylvia, Unity and -Martha's Courts and other female friends. The thanks of the Lodge was tender? ed the Planet Court by Sir W. H. Wal? ton. Enjoyment reigned supreme un? til a late hour, at which time the gal? lant Knights could be seen escorting the fair Calanthes to their several homes. The entertainment was ad? mirably planned and executed by Mes? dames Sylvia L. Mitchell, Missouri Jones and Miss Bettie Dobson with able assistants. THE LAST OF OUR SOLDIERS. The last of the colored companies of this city have been mustered into ser? vices. Co. C left Friday afternoon, 15th instant, for ('amp Johnson at Pop? lar Springs. Owing to a recent se? vere illness Capt. W. S. Cowan failed to pass the medical examination. Lieut. Benjamin A. Graves was elected to tbe vacancy. The company left with 105 men. Recruits were brought in from Roanoke, Lynchburg and Fredericksburg. The examination of the Second Bat? talion is now taking place at Peters? burg, Va, One company reached camp this week. Major J. B. Johnson was to have beer, mustered in this week. He assumed charge of the camp. B. F. Turner enlisted as commissary sergeant of (o. 0, and George Stephens, Jr., as commissary sergeant of Co. B. Joseph Barnes, the father of Pokey Barnes, enlisted in Co. A. S. J. Gilpin is second lieutenant of Co. B. He has been appointed acting adjutant of the battalion. ?We direct attention to the ad? vertisement of Biddle University. It. is doing a grand work and should bel patronized. ? CCBAN ETONTERY. They Expected to Obtain Control of Santiago de Cuba. THE CAPTURE OF POETO EIOO. General Mlle* LsSbBS thu Army or In? vadion *Whicli "Will Be Quickly For? warded to iSualn's Easternmost Weat India leland. Washington, July 20.?War depart? ment officials feel that they are fully Justified In their decision to retain practically all of Shafter's army at Santiago by the press reports that have reached them Indicating the growth of serious friction between the American forces and the Cuban troops, growing out of the latter's exclusion from San? tiago by General Shafter's orders. The trouble arises over the naming by Gen? eral Garcia of a Cuban named Castillo as governor of Santiago de Cuba. The situation has now reached a point when there ie practically no communication at all between the two armies, and their relations border on those of hos? tility, rather than the relations which one would suppose would exist between allies. The Cubans had confidently counted upon having Santiago turned over to them to loot and plunder, aa they had in succession sacked Daiquiri. Siboney and El Caney. Consequently their disap? pointment was keen when they ascer? tained that they were not to be per? mitted to take possession of the citv upon General Torsi's surrender. On Friday last Castillo, who is a brother of General Demetrius Castillo, went to General Shafter's headquarters in order to ascertain the cause of this, to the Cubans, inexplicable resolution. "Why ls Santiago to remain in ths hands of our enemies?" he asked. "The Spaniards are not our enemies," replied General Shafter. "We are fight? ing the soldiers of Spain, but we have no desire to despoil her citizens. No Cuban will be allowed to enter the city, nor will any American soldier. The government of the city is a matter for the people to decide. When the Ameri? cans leave lt. I presume it will be turned over to you, but not until then." Castillo, who came direct from Gen? eral Garcia's camp, did not attempt to conceal his chagrin. The Cuban soldiers now fully rea? lize that there is a rising sentiment against them in the American army. They hear nothing but words of scorn from our men as they pass onward, lugging their bacon and hardtack into the woods. Even our officers no longer conceal their disgust for their allies, and it is understood that the warm friendship displayed toward them at first has now turned Into contempt, for the Cubans have neither fought nor worked. It ls realized that the present situa? tion is full of difficulty, and the future ls dark, owing to the disposition evi? denced by the Cubans to ignore or re? fuse to be bound by the amenities of modern warfare. This first symptom of friction has suggested to the officials Innumerable difficulties that will arlsa In the future. Of course it would seem to be only politic now to avoid any open rupture wtth the Cubans, provided they can be kept In check, and not In? volve the United States in the disgrace that would follow the sacking of help? less communities, hut it begins to ap? pear that for some time to come, and even after the conquest of Cuba ls com? plete, the United States must maintain there a military government in order to meet the responsibilities which it has assumed to the civilized world. Because of a failure on the part of General Miles to receive the orders the president prepared late Monday to take cemmand of the military expedition against Porto Rico, that officer did not depart, as was reported from Siboney. The mistake was soon corrected yes? terday, however, and as a result of some short telegraphic correspondence that followed during the day it was gathered at the department that the Yale Would start last night. Contrary to the flrnst intention, and probably without General Miles' seeking, the Tale ls to be convoyed by a naval ves? sel that Admiral Sampson has been In? structed to select from among the ves? sels of his fleet. This may result in de? laying General Miles' progress some? what, as none of the vessels with Samp? son is able to keep pace with the Yale. Nevertheless thfro is no doubt that the general will reach Porto Rico before the detachment of ireops from Charles? ton, e Tha purpose of Secretary Alger ls to make the Porto Rican campaign a short one. An overwhelming force will be thrown upon the Island, and lt ls possible that a bloodless victory will be achieved when the Spanish become convinced that they have no reasonable chance to resist successfully. The ex? pedition ls to comprise 30,000 men at the start, and lt will bs soon swelled to 40,000 men, and if necessary to 60. 000 men. th* equipment of th* volun? teer forces having now progressed so wall aa to warrant the statement that tha number ef men can be ready for service In Port* Rice within a very short timm. Th* Invading army will doubtless Include th* Sixteenth. Third and Fourth Pennsylvania, th* Fifth Maryland and th* Second N*w York regimen ta . ? , - ?- _ THE PRESIDENT MOVING. *____ [San Francisco, Cal.. Western Out? look.) Among the recommendation! of r" resident McKinley to Congress las* week was the following: "Wm. Wash? ington, First Sergeant Troop F, Ninth; Cavalry, ard John C. Proctor, First Sergeant, Troop A, Ninth Cevalry. to the Second Lieutenants." This is s> new depar ure ard the first time color ed troopers have been so recognized, lt is an entering wedge and if the pres ent struggle be of long-duration lome of the army barriers that prejudice places in tne way of the Negro will bm very badly disfigured. PEBSOHALB AND BBIEfg. CJC -Miss Vera Holmes is now in New York. -For well-made snits at low prices? calf on Mr. (Louis Ruth. See adver? tisement. -Second Lieutenant Gilpin is act? ing adjutant of the battalion at Camp Corbin. -Mr. C. G. Jurgeu s Son carrie* fine furniture and sells on terms to suit, See advertisement. -It wes a sad affair, but Funeral Director Price g?ve complete satisfac? tion. His livery is strictly first-class. too. -The cave-in on Fifth St., near Baker ia a large one. The workmen will excavate to a depth of 50 feet. The residence of Mr. Walter Peyton is dana aged in the raar portion. -Mr. Thomas G. Leath, the man fcger has prepared separate accommo? dation at the Vaudeville shows at tbe Exposition Grounds for oolored folks. -Mrs. James H Terrell and her attractive daughter, Miss Matti* M G., are visiting friends in Norfolk, Va. -A pretty dance was given mt Price's Hall last Wednesday night in honor of Miss Ju'ia De do am of Boston, Maes., who is the guest of the Misses. Lissie and Emma Evans. -Mrs M. A. Cross is attending the Summer Normal at Hampton, Va -Miss Rosa Moody will leave next week for Hampton, Va., where shs will spend the summer. -Mrs. Mary Haskins of New Yoi*. is the guest of her mother, Mi-ax. Stokes in North 3rd St. -Mr. Charles Harris, sexton o Good Sheppard, will leave next week to visit Mr. CoJgan, at Blackstone. Nottaway Co., Va. -Prof A. J. De Hart of Cincin? nati and Prof. S. R. Singer of Coving? ton. Ky., called on at. -Mrs Joseph Lonza and sister, Miss Irene Bacon of Philadelphia, ie now in this citv, visiting their father and mothar, Mr. and Mrs. George Baa con, P04 North 8th St. -Mrs. J. M. Christian and children left Wednesday the 20th inst., for Louisa to spend the summer. -Miss Annie M. Jackson is spend? ing the summer in Louisa Co., Va. -Miss Lena V. Isham left the city for Cumberland County. She accom? panied Miss Lucy A. Trent, who has b->en visiting the Mits Ishams of thia city. -Mr.F. A. French (white) who was charged with being one of the* "grandest rascals*' in the city, whian. charges in the opinion of the Commit? tee on Cemetaries were not sustained was unanimously re-elected keeper off River View Cemetary. -Oh, yes, Dr. Ramsey will fix your teeth. He ie very skillful and gives satisfaction. See advertisement. -The Fourth Street sewer has broken again, and the residents be? tween Jackson and Duval {with tearful eyes i^ait the action of the in reim? bursing them again. -Attorney M. F. Maury will serve you on legal matters. He is thorough? ly posted. See advertisement. -Three cows belonging to Seaton A Blanton were killed by lightning on Tuesday, 19th inst. -Nelson's Improved Straightnine givt a entire satisfaction. 8ee adver? tisement. -The position held by Dr. H. !?. Harris as surgeon of the First Battal? ion, rank of Captain, is now filled b_r Dr. Black (white). Dr. Harris resign? ed and Dr. E. R. Jefferson failed to pass a physical examination. The position of quartermaster, rank of lieutenant, which Mr. Wm. Isaac. Johnson resigned was al jo given to *-. white officer. -Mr. W. Edward Miller, formerly of this city, but now of Baltimore, Md. is ia the city stopping with his aunt, Mrs. Jsne Wilson, 211 E. Baker Street. He is looking well. -Mrs. N. A. R. Leslie of Musko gee, Indian Territory, is visiting rela? tives and friends in Virginia. She lett Wednesday,-0th inst., to visit rela? tives in Petersburg and vicinity, bot will return in about two weeks to the residence of her sister, Mrs. 8. IX Jones, 615 Judah St.. where she will be pleased to see her friends. -Mrs. 8. D. Jones of 615 Judah Street has returned from a visit to hex ion in Boston, Mass. -Mrs. Rev. J. W. Boy kin, nee Dora Sandridge, of Camden, S. C., is in (he city the guest of Mr. H. F. Jona> ?han, 786 N. 6th St. -Rev. W. 8. Holland, pastor of toe Ebenezer Baptist Church of Provi? lenee, R. I., called on us. He was ae~ sompanied by his bride during his trip md left for Franklin, Va , last Wednetv lay.